5 Scams in India: What They Are and How to Avoid Them

India really got my heart racing from the moment I stepped out of the airport.

It's chaotic, overwhelming, and a massive culture shock from day one. Yet, somehow, I got through three weeks without any real problems. From starting in Mumbai, weaving through Rajasthan, into Delhi – as well as dipping into Himachal Pradesh – it was undoubtedly the most intense and perspective-changing experience I've ever had.

Of course, it wouldn't have been a complete experience without encountering some classic travel scams.

Before arriving, I did some basic research. I knew that as a clueless and naive tourist, I'd be a walking target. If I had gone in blind, I probably would've ended up buying a "VIP fast-track Taj Mahal tour" from a guy named Raj outside of a chai stall.

The reality is, poverty is a huge problem in India, and for some, scamming tourists is a way to make a living. It doesn’t make it any less frustrating when it happens, but it helps to understand why it does. If you keep your wits about you, you’ll be able to shrug off the random guy explaining that your train has "set on fire."

So what scams did I encounter? Some were funny, some were creepy, and some were completely sickening. Let me break them down.

1. The "Train is Cancelled" Scam

Classic.

I first encountered this at Mumbai Central station during peak hours. My first big mistake. Thousands of people pacing to their platforms. Sweat pouring down my face. Ready to give up trying to navigate the station.

As I climbed the stairs, a man locked eyes with me. I had a feeling he was going to approach me – and he did. He speed-walked alongside me, tapping my shoulder. "Sir... please sir, you must stop." I ignored him and kept walking. He started pulling on my bag slightly. That’s when I told him to stop.

This happened a few times at that station. I even asked one of them where my platform was, and he actually gave me directions. Think he saw how desperate I was to find my train. If I had stopped and listened, they would have tried to convince me my train wasn’t running and offered me an alternative ride – probably a 17-hour drive at an extortionate price.

Danger: 3/5 Frustration: 4/5 Creativity: 3/5

This was after the chaos of Mumbai Central Station

How to avoid it: Luckily, I expected this scam. The real mistake was booking a midday train. After that, I switched all my train tickets to early morning when stations were quieter. So go as early as possible, ignore anyone telling you to stop, and don’t be naive.

2. "We Don’t Have Uber Here" Scam

Uber in India is wild. Some tuk-tuk drivers use it, but many don’t. I always stuck with Uber - more reliable and somehow they accept cash payments?

When I landed in Jaipur, I pulled up the app outside the station. Instantly, a group of tuk-tuk drivers clocked me, and one swooped in. “No Uber in Jaipur” he claimed, ready to be my taxi driver.

I knew that some smaller cities and towns wouldn’t have it, so it threw me off. This driver was persistent and waited with me for around ten minutes. When I finally had a confirmed Uber, he wasn’t pleased. He even followed me to the car and shouted in Hindi at the driver, like he’d broken some kind of code.

Danger: 1/5 Frustration: 3/5 Creativity: 2/5

How to avoid it: I always stuck with Uber. Safe, reliable, and a good price. Never trust someone who approaches you first.

3. Palace Guards Scam

In Jaipur, I visited the City Palace. A massive place, built in the 1700s, now a huge museum.

When I went, it was a ghost town. The only thing giving it any life? The palace guards. Dressed in all white, a distinct red turban, and the most impressive moustaches I’ve ever seen.

Super friendly guys, always offering to take photos with visitors. But see, that’s how they get you!

They approach you in pairs, get you to take a picture with one of them, then bang – they ask for money. Honestly, fair play. They were polite, didn’t ask for much, and honestly, that moustache deserves a tip.

The next hustle? Even better.

In one of the palace rooms, guards were checking tickets for some reason. Looking back, I have no idea why. Once they checked mine, a guard pulled out a book full of money. Not dodgy, just a collection of different currencies people had given him.

After chatting, he asked if I had any UK currency. I didn’t. It didn’t even cross my mind that this might’ve been a scam. It didn’t feel like one – more impressive than anything.

Danger: 1/5 Frustration: 2/5 Creativity: 4/5

How to avoid it: If you don’t want to pay for a picture, just… don’t take one. But, 50p for a decent photo isn’t the worst deal. The currency scam? Should’ve seen it coming. Lesson learned.

4. Uber Driver Parking Scam

This one felt a little more off than the others. After arriving in Delhi, I did what I always do - book an Uber to my hostel. The driver picked me up and started rambling about how he had to pay for parking while waiting for me. Right away, I knew where this was going. Apparently, the parking fee was the same as the entire Uber ride. Nice try, mate.

He kept bringing it up, and I just told him I’d pay him at the end. I had no intention of doing that - I was just planning to get out and walk off.

Then it got weirder. He started asking if I had friends at the hostel. If I knew people waiting for me. Why would that matter? Alarm bells started ringing. I just said yes, even though I knew no one.

When we finally got there, I just grabbed my bag and left. I could hear him calling after me, insisting I owed him. Ignored it. Just a strange interaction all around.

Danger: 3/5 Frustration: 4/5 Creativity: 2/5

How to avoid it:

This one was tricky. When you're in a moving car, you're not exactly in control of the situation. The easiest way to avoid it? Just pay the guy and leave. But if you’re feeling stubborn, just act like you don’t understand and walk away when you arrive.

5. Shit on the Shoe Trick

Now for the worst one. Thankfully, this didn’t happen to me, but to another backpacker I met in Delhi.

The way he described it was insane. A man approached him, knelt down, and told him he had ‘dog shit’ on his shoe. Then, conveniently, offered to clean it for a price.

Something was off. The mess wasn’t in a normal stepped-in way. It was like someone had deliberately smeared it on. With their hand.

He accepted the overpriced shoe cleaning. The worst part? The more he thought about it, the less convinced he was that it came from a dog.

Danger: 4/5 Frustration: 5/5 Creativity: 5/5

How to avoid it: If someone randomly points out a suspiciously placed mess on your shoe and offers to clean it for a fee, just walk away. And maybe don’t let strangers near your shoes in the first place.

Final Thoughts

If there’s one thing I learned from India, it’s that I would never really be prepared for the chaos - instead having to learn to navigate through it.

Some of these scams were frustrating, some were impressive, and some were just strange. But they’re part of the experience. It’s the exchange for travelling somewhere as wild, unpredictable, and unforgettable as India.

Would I do anything differently? Maybe. But even the scams were lessons. And if nothing else, at least I left with my wallet intact and some decent stories.

Would I go back? Absolutely. But next time, I'll be avoiding Delhi's shoe cleaners.